What Happens When We Arrive?

When you arrive at the clinic please check in with the Business Clerk at the reception desk.

Changing Your Appointment:

Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to change or cancel your child's appointment.

Any Important “notes”:

If the patient is ill with any antibiotic resistant organism, MRSA, a communicable disease (such as chicken pox), or respiratory infection, please notify the staff at the reception desk upon arriving at the clinic as the child will be directed to a location other than the main waiting room

Referral Process:

To make a referral please contact Janice Chatland, Clinic Scheduling Coordinator at (905) 521-7967 or fax the pertinent information to (905) 385-5033

In general, children with any exercise and nutrition-related disorder, disease or complaint may be referred to us. Referrals are accepted from family physicians, pediatricians and other health-care professionals

What Services Do We Provide:

The Metabolism, Obesity & Health in Youth program includes 2 clinical services:

1) The assessment and care of children and adolescents with genetic disorders of cholesterol and lipid metabolism.

2) Assessment and care of children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.

The Pediatric Lipid Clinic sees clients with disorders in lipid metabolism (abnormal cholesterol levels), many of whom have family histories of cholesterol disorders and premature coronary artery disease.

The primary mode of treatment for children with lipid disorders includes diet and exercise and may include lipid-lowering medications in some children.

Importantly, the Lipid Clinic includes a transition clinic to help position adolescents and families for successful ongoing care in the adult setting.

The Growing Health Weight Management Program provides clinical services for children, youth, and families with overweight or obesity. Services include multidisciplinary care to assist in the development of healthy lifestyles and the evaluation and management of obesity related health problems including prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian disease, dyslipidemias etc.

The Metabolism, Obesity & Health in Youth program also has an active research program led by Dr. Katherine Morrison.

The Exercise Medicine Clinic uses exercise testing and physical activity counselling to enhance the care of children with:

juvenile arthritis

inflammatory bowel disease

cancer

Type 1 diabetes

cystic fibrosis

cerebral palsy

other chronic medical conditions

By contributing exercise- and diet-related assessments, interventions, and follow-up, a comprehensive medical program is offered to assist these youth and their families. The Child Health & Exercise Medicine program also has an active research program led by Dr. Brian Timmons.

We also provide education to a variety of learners on the relevance of physical activity, nutrition, and lifestyle to the current and future health, well-being and function of children and adolescents. The medical assessment and management of lipid disorders and metabolic disorders including obesity is highlighted. This is accomplished through both core and elective clinical rotations (medical students and residents), research trainees (undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral fellowships), visiting professorships, lectures, seminars and publications.

Behavioural Therapist: Works with the child to understand eating and activity habits, Provides education , Looks into and evaluates overall lifestyle (eating, exercise, nutrition, extra curricular activities, Focus on and evaluation of family home life, Daily/ situational obstacles for children& family, Behavior modification plans (CBT), Goal setting & planning, Lifestyle modifications, Links family with outside resources when needed, Does follow-up with goal setting, Works with both family and child to evaluate home life and behavioural patterns, Conducts questionnaires/ interviews to assess child’s body image/ perception of surroundings and life outlook

Kinesiologist: assessment of child and family activity level, encourage physical activity and exercise, create motivation around exercise and being active, will provide exercise plan if wanted, can assist in exercise education (how to properly do exercises), can provide learning tools to teach families and children how to exercise, conduct goal setting and follow up, focus on whole family motivation and participation to encourage children to be active

Dietitian:

helps set weight management goals

helps develop small achievable goals

works to accommodate patient and parent perspectives

uses the Canada food guide as a base when developing dietary plans

provides resources for education (apps, recipes etc.)

patients will see the team dietitian almost every time they are in the clinic for an appointment

Our Philosophy:

Our philosophy is family-centered care. We strive to provide the best care possible